As part of its advocacy efforts towards building a people-centered and sustainable recovery from the Beirut port explosion and its endeavors to promote inclusive and equitable social justice, as well as foster trust between individuals, entities, and the Lebanese government, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) partnered with Transparency International (TI) and its local chapter, Transparency International Lebanon – No Corruption, to issue “The Reform Monitor.” The topics covered by the monitor are linked to the areas of reform, recovery, and reconstruction (3RF). The monitor falls within the Building Integrity and National Accountability in Lebanon (BINA’) project, which is funded by the European Union. At the end of December 2022, the overall framework was reviewed for evaluation and adaptation purposes based on the closeout of the first phase, with foreseen updates underway. The views expressed in the monitor do not necessarily reflect those of the donor.Reform MonitorLinkExplaining the 3RF in the Wake of the Beirut Blasthttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4774/explaining-the-3rf-in-the-wake-of-the-beirut-blastThe National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and Curbing Rampant Corruption in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4793/the-national-anti-corruption-commission-(nacc)-and-curbing-rampant-corruption-in-lebanonThe Implementation of the 2020 Law on Illicit Enrichment: Challenges and Opportunitieshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4815/the-implementation-of-the-2020-law-on-illicit-enrichment-challenges-and-opportunitiesAccess to Information in Lebanon: The Law and Its Implementationhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4833/access-to-information-in-lebanon-the-law-and-its-implementationRegulating the Energy Transition: Lebanon’s New Law on Distributed Renewable Energyhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4853/monitor-%7C-regulating-the-energy-transition-lebanon%E2%80%99s-new-law-on-distributed-renewable-energyThe National Human Rights Commission: Prospects and Challengeshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4873/monitor-%7C-the-national-human-rights-commission-prospects-and-challengesProtecting Beirut’s Heritage Buildingshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4877/reform-monitor-%7C-protecting-beirut%E2%80%99s-heritage-buildingsStatus Review of Disability Rights in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4879/reform-monitor-%7C-status-review-of-disability-rights-in-lebanonLebanon’s Price Subsidies Systemhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4882/lebanon%E2%80%99s-price-subsidies-systemSyrian Refugees in Lebanon: Legal Challenges for Municipalitieshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4884/monitor-%7C-syrian-refugees-in-lebanon-legal-challenges-for-municipalitiesReforming Municipal Elections in Lebanon: Pathways to Democratic Local Governancehttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4888/reforming-municipal-elections-in-lebanon-pathways-to-democratic-local-governanceEducation in Times of Emergency in Lebanon: Improvised Solutions and Missed Opportunitieshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4896/education-in-times-of-emergency-in-lebanon-improvised-solutions-and-missed-opportunitiesAssessing the Compliance of Lebanese Ministries with the Access to Information Lawhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4890/monitor-%7C-assessing-the-compliance-of-lebanese-ministries-with-the-access-to-information-lawManagement of Construction Demolition Waste in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4905/management-of-construction-demolition-waste-in-lebanonStrengthening Protections: An Analysis of Violence Against Women Legislation in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4914/strengthening-protections-an-analysis-of-violence-against-women-legislation-in-lebanonGovernance of Aid in Times of Crisishttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4938/governance-of-aid-in-times-of-crisisStrengthening Whistleblower Protection: A Key to Accountability in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4942/strengthening-whistleblower-protection-a-key-to-accountability-in-lebanonVoices Under Siege: Monitoring Freedom of Speech in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4968/voices-under-siege-monitoring-freedom-of-speech-in-lebanonLiving with Inequality: An Overview of LGBTQIA+ Rights in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4973/living-with-inequality-an-overview-of-lgbtqia--rights-in-lebanonLebanon’s Rental Law and the Housing Crisishttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4977/lebanon%E2%80%99s-rental-law-and-the-housing-crisisAdministrative Decentralization in Lebanon: Opportunity for Reform or Risk of Fragmentation?https://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4981/administrative-decentralization-in-lebanon-opportunity-for-reform-or-risk-of-fragmentation read more

Public Procurement Reform Tracker[1] Reform Area: Public Procurement Last Updated: November 2025 Citizen Impact Summary Dimension Snapshot Source Who Is Affected? All ministries, municipalities, public institutions, SOEs, citizens, and private suppliers dependent on fair, efficient public spending and infrastructure recovery. Status of Implementation of Lebanon’s Public Procurement Law 244-2021 and Assessment of Skills’ Gaps and Training Needs : Summary Report Financial Burden? 78% funding gap for national strategy; implementation suffers from delayed decrees, weak staffing, and currency devaluation impacting bid pricing and procurement planning. Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Public Services? Municipal and sectoral procurements stalled or conducted outside legal frameworks due to lack of tools, standard documents, and functioning e-platform. Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Mental‑Health Toll? Chronic uncertainty in public tenders, lack of grievance redress, and elite interference contribute to reform fatigue and institutional demoralization. World Bank Lebanon - Systematic country diagnostic, Summer 2024; Technical Note on the Amendments brought to Law 244/2021; Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Overview & Objectives Goal Establish a transparent, competitive, and accountable procurement system aligned with international standards. Strategic Importance Public procurement is a foundational anti-corruption and fiscal reform, highlighted in CEDRE, IMF SLA (2022), and the 3RF recovery framework. Key Reform Priorities 1. Finalize secondary legislation (internal, financial, staffing decrees for PPA & CA). 2. Operationalize PPA and establish Complaints Authority. 3. Publish Standard Procurement Documents and guidelines. 4. Launch full national e-procurement system. 5. Institutionalize certified procurement cadres across public entities. Reform Actions & Status Specific Reform Actions & Accountability Reform Action Required Current Status Lead Authority Implementing Body Oversight / Supporting Actors Primary Source Establish Public Procurement Authority (PPA) President appointed; 4 board members still pending. PPA operating with only 8 staff (5 auditors) despite legal mandate of 83. Internal and financial regulations remained unapproved for 2.5 years, limiting institutional activation. PPA president confirmed that progress is constrained by HR shortages and delayed appointments. Council of Ministers Ministry of Finance / IoF Parliament, Donor Coordination Group Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025; NNA, 12 June 2025 Create Complaints Authority (CA) Not yet established. Legal and institutional framework pending; board formation stalled. Lack of CA undermines grievance mechanisms and erodes public trust. Council of Ministers To be determined PPA, Ministry of Finance Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Launch e-Procurement Platform Portal is actively used to publish tenders, awards, and annual plans across entities, including new notices dated Nov 2025, yet end-to-end e-tendering and centralized supplier registration remain pending. PPA PPA WB, IoF, EU/OECD SIGMA Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025; NNA, 12 June 2025; PPA 2025 Adopt Decrees on PPA Internal & Financial Regulations Adopted in Dec 2024 after 2.5 years of delay. Decrees had been submitted by PPA in July 2022 and remained pending in CoM. Council of Ministers PPA Inter-ministerial Committee Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025 Appoint trained procurement officers in all entities Institutional framework developed but skills and staffing gaps persist across ministries, municipalities, and SOEs. Law-mandated procurement cadre remains incomplete. Ministry of Finance / PPA Procuring Entities IoF, UNDP, WB Status of Implementation of Lebanon’s Public Procurement Law 244-2021 and Assessment of Skills’ Gaps and Training Needs : Summary Report Set up Technical Support Unit at PPA and CA Not yet operational. No dedicated staff assigned to technical support or capacity-building. Requires budget line and formal hiring. Ministry of Finance PPA / CA Donors Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025 Ensure BDL compliance with Law 244/2021 in advisory and services contracts PPA concluded the BDL–K2 Integrity contract was concluded through procedures that violate Law 244/2021: signed on 9 Jul 2025 by a non-competent authority while the Central Council lacked quorum, relied on a lapsed/unsuitable CoM Decision No. 3 of 2 Oct 2024, and fell outside the scope of emergency security/IT services; therefore subject to annulment before the Shura Council. PPA BDL Parliament, Court of Accounts, Central Inspection Legal Agenda September 11, 2025; Daraj September 9, 2025 Reform Roadmap Timeline & Critical Path Recent Milestone Recent Milestone Date What Happened Status on Critical Path Source PPA memo on announcement deadlines (Art. 12) Oct 29, 2025 PPA issued Memo No. 3/هـ.ش.ع./2025 clarifying tender announcement periods required by Law 244/2021. Supports uniform practice across procuring entities, reduces challenges. PPA 2025 PPA determines BDL–K2 contract violates Law 244/2021 September 2025 PPA, in a formal reply to a parliamentary question, found the K2 Integrity contract concluded in breach of Article 46 procedures, competence rules, and scope limits of CoM Decision No. 3/2024. Highlights enforcement needs and uniform application across entities, including BDL. Legal Agenda September 11, 2025; Daraj September 9, 2025 EDL HQ Rehabilitation Tender Suspended July 27, 2025 Court of Audit suspended tender 30 minutes before opening financial bids due to appeals by excluded companies; PPA and DPA reviewing legality and transparency Shows active application of Law 244/2021 oversight; delays infrastructure recovery Al-Modon, 2 August 2025 PPA presents progress to EU June 12, 2025 PPA shared reform updates with EU delegation; highlighted launch of new website and upcoming annual report Signals forward momentum in implementation NNA, 12 June 2025 Decrees for PPA and CA finalized Dec 2024 CoM approved PPA internal and financial regulation decrees after 2.5 years of delay since July 2022 Achieved Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Law 244/2021 enters into force July 2022 Public Procurement Law became legally binding Achieved Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Law 309/2023 (Amendments to Public Procurement Law) April 2023 Controversial amendments affecting procurement committees and eligibility; referred for constitutional review Achieved Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023   Next Steps – Transparency and Accountability Calendar Action Responsible Entity Target Date Source Regularize or rescind BDL–K2 contract: either run a competitive process under Law 244/2021 or obtain a specific, time-bound CoM authorization per Article 46(4) with explicit reasons and ex post publication. Banque du Liban / CoM / PPA - Legal Agenda September 11, 2025; Daraj September 9, 2025 PMO/PPA to issue a standardized template and guidance for Article 46 requests, including explicit justification, scope limits, and publication requirements, then circulate to all entities including BDL. PMO / PPA - Legal Agenda September 11, 2025; Daraj September 9, 2025 Resolve EDL HQ tender suspension & relaunch transparent process EDL / Court of Audit / PPA / DPA Aug 2025 (est.) Al-Modon, 2 August 2025 Issue first PPA annual report identifying procurement implementation gaps and reform needs PPA - NNA, 12 June 2025 Appoint 4 remaining PPA Board Members Council of Ministers - Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Recruit full PPA staffing (83 positions) to replace stopgap staffing of 8 employees (incl. 5 auditors) Civil Service Board / Council of Ministers - Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025 Establish Complaints Authority (CA) CSB / CoM - Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Finalize national e-procurement platform OMSAR / MoF / PPA - Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025 Launch procurement profession competency IoF / CSB / PMO - Status of Implementation of Lebanon’s Public Procurement Law 244-2021 and Assessment of Skills’ Gaps and Training Needs : Summary Report; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Clarify and codify emergency procurement rules to prevent abuse of Article 46 exceptions and ensure ex post accountability. This includes formalizing thresholds, publishing post-crisis contracts, and defining “urgent need” criteria in alignment with Memo No. 8/2024. Parliament / MoF / PPA - Nidaa Al Watan, 22 Nov 2024; Memo 8/2024; Hura7.com, 28 Dec 2024 Enforce post-war audit of exceptional procurements conducted under Article 46(2) (emergency clause) to assess legality, necessity, and abuse Public Procurement Authority (PPA) / Court of Accounts / Central Inspection Upon cessation of hostilities Nidaa Al Watan, 22 Nov 2024 Issue remaining implementing decrees of the Public Procurement Law following political consultations between Speaker of Parliament and PPA President Parliament (Speaker’s Office) / Council of Ministers / PPA - LBCI News; March 2025 (Meeting between Speaker Berri and PPA President Jean Alia)   Implementation Bottlenecks & Required Actions Bottleneck Official Explanation Required Immediate Action Source Political interference in appointments Delayed formation of collegial PPA and CA weakens reform impact CoM to prioritize appointments via transparent, merit-based process Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Budget shortfalls Inadequate allocations in 2023 budget for PPA and CA operations Ensure 2025 budget includes full funding for both bodies Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Technical capacity gaps Procurement officers lack adequate training and clarity on roles Launch national training and qualification scheme Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023   Stakeholders & Roles Entity Core Function Primary Contact Point Public Procurement Authority (PPA) Regulatory oversight of public procurement; develops standard templates and guidelines; manages capacity building and monitoring; provides guidance to procuring entities. President of the PPA (currently Judge Jean Alia) Complaints Authority (planned) Independent body for reviewing procurement complaints and appeals; ensures legal redress and fairness; not yet operational. To be appointed by Council of Ministers (under Article 78 of Law 244) Institute of Finance Basil Fuleihan (IoF) Technical coordination of procurement reform; leads training programs, MAPS assessments, and capacity gap studies; advisor to Ministry of Finance. Director of IoF – Ministry of Finance Council of Ministers (CoM) Political and administrative authority for adopting decrees (e.g., on PPA, CA, financial rules); responsible for key appointments and funding allocations. General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) Technical lead for e-procurement system development (together with PPA); manages IT infrastructure and inter-operability aspects. Director General of OMSAR Ministry of Finance (MoF) Parent ministry for procurement reform policy; responsible for budgeting PPA and CA; coordinates donor support and public financial management (PFM) integration. Director General of Finance Civil Service Board (CSB) Oversees recruitment of procurement officers and validation of organizational structures; participates in approving procurement cadre framework. President of the Civil Service Board Donor Coordination Platform (EU, WB, UNDP, AFD, etc.) Provides financial and technical assistance; monitors implementation progress and alignment with international standards. Chaired by EU Delegation to Lebanon (rotating lead among partners) Procuring Entities (Ministries, Municipalities, SOEs) Responsible for planning, executing, and reporting on procurement activities in compliance with Law 244/2021. Procurement Focal Points / Directorate of Administrative Affairs Court of Accounts / Central Inspection Audits public spending including procurement; monitors compliance and flags violations. President of Court of Accounts / Head of Central Inspection   Legal & Policy Framework Instrument Status Key Provisions Implementation Note Law 244/2021 (Public Procurement Law) In force since July 2022 Applies to all public entities; e-platform; PPA & CA establishment Core reform pillar aligned with UNCITRAL and OECD guidelines Decree on PPA internal regulation Adopted (Dec 2024) Governance, structure, HR and internal processes Approved by Council of Ministers Decree on PPA financial regulation Adopted (Dec 2024) Budget and financial procedures Still pending full implementation with MoF coordination Amendments (Law 309/2023) Controversial Changes to bidder eligibility and committee appointment standards Constitutional appeal submitted; viewed as undermining original reform   Official Sources and Reference Materials   Instrument Source Ministerial Statement (25 Feb 2025) Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Public Procurement Reform Strategy 2022–2024 Public Procurement Reform Strategy 2022–2024 Paving the way for Sustainable Public Procurement in Lebanon Paving the way for Sustainable Public Procurement in Lebanon Technical Note on Amendments to Law 244/2021 Technical Note on the Amendments brought to Law 244/2021 Progress Report – Jan 2024 Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 World Bank Summary Report on PPL Implementation – Dec 2024 Status of Implementation of Lebanon’s Public Procurement Law 244-2021 and Assessment of Skills’ Gaps and Training Needs : Summary Report     List of Acronyms – Public Procurement Reform Tracker Acronym Full Name PPA Public Procurement Authority CA Complaints Authority MoF Ministry of Finance IoF Institute of Finance Basil Fuleihan CoM Council of Ministers OMSAR Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform CSB Civil Service Board SOEs State-Owned Enterprises WB World Bank EU European Union OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development SIGMA Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (joint EU–OECD initiative) UNDP United Nations Development Programme AFD Agence Française de Développement PMO Prime Minister’s Office MAPS Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law   [1] All reform data presented here is based on official Lebanese government sources, such as laws, decrees, strategies, and verified public data. Where possible, each update is linked to a document, gazette entry, or institutional publication. read more

 Reform Area: Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Last Updated: November 2025Citizen Impact Summary Dimension Snapshot Source Who Is Affected? All women and girls, including persons with disabilities, elderly women, refugees, migrant & undocumented women, prisoners and SOGIESC communities. Lebanon’s legal framework maintains structural discrimination in nationality, inheritance, family law, and pensions, particularly under Article 9 of the Constitution. National Strategy for Women in Lebanon 2022-2030 – National Action Plan 2024‑2026; GJS Country Brief – Lebanon (2024) Financial Burden? Execution of reforms relies heavily on donor financing because of Lebanon’s fiscal collapse and limited public‑sector operating budgets. National Strategy for Women in Lebanon 2022-2030 – National Action Plan 2024‑2026 Public Services? Gender-responsive services in protection, health, and employment remain fragmented and underfunded, especially for refugees, migrants, and SOGIESC populations. National Strategy for Women in Lebanon 2022-2030 – National Action Plan 2024‑2026; GJS Country Brief – Lebanon (2024) Mental‑Health Toll? Persistent GBV, economic hardship and discrimination heighten psychological distress—especially for women, migrant workers and SOGOESC persons. GJS Country Brief – Lebanon (2024) Overview & Objectives Goal Achieve de‑jure and de‑facto gender equality through: 1) repeal of discriminatory statutes & reservations; 2) institutionalization of gender‑responsive governance; 3) economic & social protection for every woman and girl; 4) parity in decision‑making; 5) rights‑based cultural change. Strategic Importance The 2025 ministerial statement pledges a rights‑and‑equality lens, positioning gender justice as a prerequisite for national recovery and inclusive growth. Key Reform Priorities 1. End gender‑based violence & implement Laws 293/2014, 204‑205/2020. 2. Expand social‑protection, labour and care‑economy measures for women. 3. Political participation: enact municipal Gender‑Quota Bill (30 – 50 % seats). 4. Remove legal discrimination (Penal Code, Personal‑status, Nationality). 5. Abolish/replace kafala; extend labour‑law coverage to migrant & domestic workers. 6. Mainstream gender & SOGIESC data in all public budgets & statistics. 7. Institutionalize women’s participation in decision-making beyond numeric representation by integrating gender equity across ministerial portfolios and appointments. 8. Reform political party nomination rules to mandate equitable inclusion of women and penalize exclusionary practices. Reform Actions & StatusSpecific Reform Actions & Accountability Reform Action Required Current Status (May 2025) Lead Authority Implementing Body Oversight / Supporting Actors Primary Source Gender‑Quota Bill for municipal councils (30 – 50 %) Ten MPs signed; in relevant parliamentary committees. Women secured 10.37% of municipal seats in 2025 in the absence of a statutory quota, strengthening the case for the bill. Parliament Parliamentary Committees UNDP, UN Women, Fifty‑Fifty, Gov. of Canada UNDP/UN Women round‑table 19 Feb 2025; L’Orient Le Jour 2025 Comprehensive review & amendment of discriminatory laws (Penal Code, Personal‑status, Nationality) Pledged in Ministerial Statement; review to start Q3 2025 Ministry of Justice (MoJ) MoJ/NCLW legal team Parliament Women’s Caucus, CSOs Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Legislative reform of Penal Code Art. 534 (criminalising same-sex relations) Conflicting bills introduced: repeal (July 2023); re-criminalisation and expansion (Aug 2023) MoJ Parliament NCLW, LGBTQI+ coalitions, Proud Lebanon GJS Country Brief – Lebanon (2024) Reform kafala & include migrant domestic workers under Labour Law Stalled Ministry of Labour (MoL) Labour Inspectorate ILO, Migrant‑sending Govts., NGOs GJS Country Brief – Lebanon (2024) Enforce Law 205/2020 on sexual harassment (workplace compliance) Partial – criminal penalties exist; employer obligations absent MoJ & MoL Employers, ISF Women’s‑rights NGOs Law 205/2020 Ensure gender equality in National Social Security Fund (NSSF) family allowance and health benefit entitlements Administrative guidance referenced; enforcement lagging; Existing law favors male breadwinners; reform proposals under study NSSF NSSF, MoSA Gender Units in ministries, NCLW, ILO UN WOMEN, Social Protection in Lebanon, From a Gender Perspective Introduce paid paternity and increase maternity leave Maternity leave below ILO standards; no paternity leave MoL Parliament CSOs, UN Women Labor Law, Articles 28-29, World Bank Lebanon 2024 Integrate gender equity into ministerial appointments and public board nominations No binding criteria; elite networks and confessional loyalties prevail PCM OMSAR NCLW, UN Women, CSOs Independent Arabia, 16 Feb 2025 Reform Roadmap Timeline & Critical PathRecent Milestone Milestone Date What Happened Status on Critical Path Source National Action Plan (NAP) 2024‑2026 adopted Jan 2024 15 impact areas agreed by 21 ministries & stakeholders Baseline National Strategy for Women in Lebanon 2022-2030 – National Action Plan 2024‑2026 Repeal of Penal Code Art. 522 (rapist‑marriage) Aug 2017 Article allowing rapists to escape punishment by marrying their victims abolished Completed UN WOMEN Sexual‑Harassment Law 205 enacted Dec 2020 One of first in MENA Enforcement ongoing Law 205/2020 Gender‑Quota round‑table catalyses bill Feb 2025 Stakeholders demand expedited vote Building momentum UNDP/UN Women round‑table 19 Feb 2025 Five women appointed as ministers in new government Jan 2025 Highest female representation (21%) in any Lebanese cabinet; marks numeric gain but structural gaps in gendered policymaking persist Symbolic step; lacks policy traction Independent Arabia, 16 Feb 2025  Next Steps – Transparency and Accountability Calendar (Expected Q2–Q3 2025) Action Responsible Entity Target Date Source Finalize inputs for Lebanon’s 7th CEDAW report due Feb 2026, consolidating 2025 reforms and obstacles, and publish a civil-society shadow timeline by Dec 2025. National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) Feb 2026 NHRC - CPT Complete legal scan of all gender discriminatory provisions MoJ / NCLW - Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Committee reports & amendments on Quota Bill → plenary vote Parliamentary Committees - UNDP/UN Women round‑table 19 Feb 2025 Introduce civil pension scheme for private-sector workers Ministry of Labour / NSSF - UN WOMEN, Social Protection in Lebanon, From a Gender Perspective Submit amendment to NSSF survivor and family allowance scheme MoL / NSSF - UN WOMEN, Social Protection in Lebanon, From a Gender Perspective  Implementation Bottlenecks & Required Actions Bottleneck Official Explanation Immediate Action Fiscal constraints limit execution of NAP actions Collapsed revenues, donor dependence Embed gender lines in 2025‑26 budgets; mobilise 3RF, IMF & Canada/UN pooled funds Personal‑status laws under 15 religious courts Art. 9 of Constitution protects sectarian jurisdiction Form national commission to draft optional civil code; negotiate with religious authorities Law 205 lacks employer‑level enforcement tools Penal focus without compliance duties Amend law to mandate internal policies, reporting & labour‑inspection powers Migrant workers outside labour‑law coverage Kafala supersedes Labour Law Cabinet‑level decree to extend labour protections; ratify ILO C189 Gender bias in NSSF family benefits Survivor pensions and health benefits are not equally granted to male and female contributors Amend NSSF Law and align with gender parity principles Gaps in maternity/paternity leave protections Current law mandates 10 weeks’ maternity leave, no paternity leave Update Labour Code to align with ILO Convention 183 Ministerial and board appointments lack gender parity standards Confessional and partisan interests override merit-based gender inclusion   Adopt a gender-responsive appointments policy; track female appointments across all levels  Stakeholders & Roles Entity Core Function Contact NCLW Strategy coordination, monitoring Office of NCLW President Ministry of Justice Draft & steer legal reforms Minister’s Legal Desk Ministry of Labour Labour‑law revision, kafala reform Director‑General Parliamentary Women & Children Committee Scrutinise gender bills Committee Secretariat Fifty‑Fifty / civil‑society coalition Quota advocacy & public campaigns NGO Coordination Unit UN Women / UNDP / ILO Technical & financial support Beirut Country Offices  Legal & Policy Framework Instrument Status Key Provisions Implementation Note National Strategy for Women 2022‑2030 Active Five strategic objectives Guides all sectoral plans National Strategy for Women NAP 2024‑2026 In progress 15 impact targets incl. VAW, health, leadership Needs sustained funding Draft laws on Art. 534 (2023) Conflicting bills pending One bill to repeal Article 534 (decriminalise); two bills to expand penalties for promotion/facilitation Reform progress at risk due to political and religious backlash Ministerial Statement (25 Feb 2025) In force Commits to eliminate discrimination & secure parity Sets whole‑of‑government mandate Gender‑Quota Bill (Municipal) In committee (2025) 30 % (9‑&‑12‑member councils) / 50 % (15+ seats) Expected overall 40 % female share Law 205/2020 (Sexual ‑ Harassment) In force Criminalises harassment; lacks employer compliance Enforcement guidelines pending Labour Code Art. 28 & 29 In force 10-week maternity leave, no paternity leave Below ILO minimum; employer liability discourages hiring NSSF Law (Family/Survivor benefits) In force Unequal entitlements for women contributors Reform needed to ensure gender-neutral benefits Social‑Security Amendment 2023 In force Equal health & family benefits for men & women CNSS enforcement lagging CEDAW Ratified 1997 (reservations) Periodic reporting; Feb 2026 7th report due Advocacy for reservation withdrawal  Official Sources and Reference Materials Instrument Source Ministerial Statement (25 Feb 2025) MMinisterial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 National Strategy for Women in Lebanon 2022-2030 – National Action Plan 2024‑2026 National Strategy for Women in Lebanon 2022-2030 – National Action Plan 2024‑2026 GJS Country Brief – Lebanon (2024) GJS Country Brief – Lebanon (2024) 3RF Recovery Framework for Beirut and Lebanon (2023–2024) 3RF Recovery Framework for Beirut and Lebanon (2023–2024)   List of Acronyms – Gender Reform Tracker Acronym Full Form CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women CSO Civil Society Organization GBV Gender-Based Violence GJS Gender Justice Strategy ILO International Labour Organization ISF Internal Security Forces LGBTQI+ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex and others MoJ Ministry of Justice MoL Ministry of Labour MoSA Ministry of Social Affairs MPs Members of Parliament NAP National Action Plan NCLW National Commission for Lebanese Women NSSF National Social Security Fund SOGIESC Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics UNDP United Nations Development Programme UN United Nations UN Women United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women VAW Violence Against Women 3RF Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework   read more